Tray-style flash memory drive

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a tray-style flash memory drive that can be embedded in or externally connected to a computer system or a digital electronic product to enable the computer system or digital product to access various memory cards (flash memory cards), said flash memory drive comprises a case, a base in the case, and a tray that may slide or close on the base, wherein there is a circuit board in the case, and the circuit board has a signal transmission unit and a plurality of contacts. There is a plurality of lugs on the bottom of the tray. When the tray slides and opens, and a memory card is placed in it, the lugs will contact the I/O pins of the memory card on their top surfaces. When the tray slides backward and closes, the lugs will contact the contacts on the circuit board on their bottom surfaces electrically. Thus data stored in the memory card can be input and output via the transmission unit through the I/O pins of the memory card, the lugs on the tray, and the contacts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention provides a tray-style flash memory drive that can be used to access memory cards to enable the memory cards to serve as storage media for computer systems or portable digital products. The tray-style flash memory drive in the present invention can work with at least the following memory cards: Compact Flash Cards (Type I/II), Smart Media Cards, Multimedia Cards, Secure Digital Cards, xD Cards, and Memory Stick Cards.

[0003] 2. Background of the Invention

[0004] A flash memory drive is a device that is used to access memory cards (also referred as flash memory cards). As shown in FIG.1, a conventional flash memory drive (1) typically is a box-shape device that can be embedded in or externally connected to a computer system or a portable digital product (e.g., PDA, DSC, or MP3 Player, etc.) through its signal transmission unit (2). There is an opening on the leading edge of the flash memory drive to enable a memory card (3) to be inserted in the flash memory drive. When a memory card (3) is inserted in said flash memory drive (1) through the opening, it will be connected to the computer system or portable digital product via the signal transmission unit (2) of the flash memory drive (1), and the computer or digital product can access the memory card (3) with the help of the flash memory drive (1).

[0005] Said memory card (3) may be (but not limited to) a Compact Flash Card (Type I/II), Smart Media Card, Multimedia Card, Secure Digital Card, xD Card, or Memory Stick Card, which has a plurality of I/O pins at different positions. As such a card is inserted in the flash memory drive (1), its I/O pins will wipe the fixed conductive terminals or contacts of the flash memory card (1). When the memory card (3) is located in the flash memory drive (1), its pins with contacts firmly the fixed conductive terminals or contacts of the flash memory card (1).

[0006] In other words, during the insertion /pullout actions, the I/O pins of the memory card (3) will abrade the fixed conductive terminals or contacts of the flash memory drive (1) constantly. As time passes, the input/output terminals of the memory card (3) may be worn out, which causes the memory card (3) unusable and important data may lose.

[0007] As memory cards (3) are more and more popular, above disadvantage of conventional flash memory drives has become a severe problem. Therefore, the inventor provides a tray-style flash memory drive, which eliminates above disadvantage in conventional flash memory drives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The tray-style flash memory drive in the present invention comprises a case, a base in the case, and a tray that may slide or close on the base, wherein there is a circuit board in the case, and the circuit board has a signal transmission unit and a plurality of contacts. There is a plurality of lugs on the bottom of the tray. When the tray slides and opens, and a memory card is placed in it, the lugs will contact the I/O pins of the memory card on their top surfaces. When the tray slides backward and closes, the lugs will contact the contacts on the circuit board on their bottom surfaces electrically. Thus data stored in the memory card can be input and output via the transmission unit through the I/O pins of the memory card, the lugs on the tray, and the contacts.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a tray-style flash memory drive, after a memory card is placed in the tray and the tray slides to enable the memory card to locate, the memory card will contact the contacts on the circuit board electrically. As the result, during the insertion of the memory card in the flash memory drive, the I/O pins of the memory card can couple with the circuit board via lugs on the tray instead of wiping fixed contacts in the flash memory drive, which will avoid abrasion to the I/O pins of the memory card, and lifecycle of the memory card will be improved.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is: during the insertion of the memory card in the flash memory drive, the I/O pins of the memory card will not wipe the contacts in the flash memory drive, thus the laying direction of the memory card is not limited. Therefore, memory cards of different sizes or specifications may share the containing space on the tray. In this way, a flash memory card can support different types of memory cards, which actually implements data exchange among different types of memory cards indirectly.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is: there is a locking part on the leading edge of the tray. When the memory card is placed in the tray, the locking part will lock and locate the memory card automatically. Whenever the memory card is to be taken out, the operator may loose the locking part and take out the memory card easily.

[0012] The detailed structure, principle, and efficacy of the present invention will be described in further detail according to the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG.1 is the 3D view of a memory card being inserted in/pullout from a conventional case;

[0014] FIG.2 is the schematic diagram of the tray-style flash memory drive of the present invention being embedded in a computer.

[0015] FIG.3 is the schematic diagram of the tray-style flash memory drive of the present invention being externally connected to a computer.

[0016] FIG.4 is the schematic diagram of the tray-style flash memory drive of the present invention supporting different memory cards.

[0017] FIG.5 is the exploded view of the tray-style flash memory drive of the present invention.

[0018] FIG.6 is an embodiment of the base in the present invention.

[0019] FIG.7 is connecting diagram among the base, tray, lugs, and memory card of the present invention.

[0020] FIG.8 and FIG.9 are the first and second embodiments of the lugs on the tray according to the present invention.

[0021] FIG.10 and FIG.11 are the acting schematic diagrams of the locking part in the present invention. Case (10) Signal Transmission Unit (11) Circuit Board (12) Contacts (13) Base (20) Slide Rails (21) Card Ejector (22) Through-Holes (23) Tray (30) Containing Space (31) Guided Groove (32) Computer System (40) Memory Card (50) I/O Pins (51) Locking Part (70) Blocking Plate (71) Spring (72) Follow Plate (73) Hook (74) Lugs (80) Fixed End (81) First and Second elastic contact ends (82, 83)

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0022] As shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3, the tray-style flash memory drive in the present invention comprises a case (10), a base (20) in the case (10), and a tray (30) that can slide forward and backward on the base (20), wherein the case (10) has a signal transmission unit (11), which can be embedded in or externally connected to a computer system (40) or portable digital product. In actual implementations, the signal transmission unit (11) can employ an IDE or ATAPI interface (conventional technology) to facilitate the case (10) to be embedded in the computer system (40) (as shown in FIG.2) or an USB or IEEE1394 interface to enable the case (10) to be externally connected to the computer (40) (as shown in FIG.3) or a portable digital product.

[0023] As shown in FIG.4-FIG.7, wherein the case (10) has a circuit board (12) in it, and the circuit board (12) has said signal transmission unit (11) and a plurality of contacts (13). The contacts (13) are located under the base and connected to the signal transmission unit (11). The signal transmission unit (11) is designed to transfer signals, and it has at least a chip on the circuit board (12), a connector, and signal leads coupled with the connector. FIG.4 discloses the signal leads of the signal transmission unit (11) at the back of the case (10). FIG.5 discloses the connector of the signal transmission unit (11) at the back of the circuit board (12). This is prior art.

[0024] The base (20) is mounted on top of the circuit board (12) in the case (10), and it has two slide rails: one has a card ejector (22) on one side. As shown in FIG.5, the base (20) is unenclosed on the bottom, and the contacts (13) of the circuit board (12) are exposed under the base (20). In actual implementations, as shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7, a plurality of through-holes (23) may be configured on the flat bottom of the base (20), directly against the contacts (13) on the circuit board (12).

[0025] Please referring to FIG.4-FIG.7 again, said tray (30) has a containing space (31) at the center to hold several types of memory cards (50). There is a guided groove (32) on each side of said tray (30), coupling with the corresponding slide rail (21) of the base (20). In this way, the tray (30) may slide forward and backward on the base (20). There is a locking part (70) on the leading edge of the tray (30), and there is a plurality of lugs (80) on the bottom of the tray (30), against the contacts (13) on the circuit board (12).

[0026] When the tray (30) slides out along the base (20), a memory card (50) can be placed in it, and the memory card (50) can be locked with the locking part (70). At the same time, the lugs (80) on the tray (30) contact the I/O pins (51) of the memory card (50). When the tray (30) slides back to its original position, the lugs (80) on the tray (30) will contact the contacts (13) on the circuit board (12) electrically. In the embodiments in FIG.6 and FIG.7, there is a plurality of through-holes (23) on the bottom of the base (20), directly against the contacts (13) of the circuit board (12). Thus, when the tray (30) slides back to its original position, the lugs (80) will correspond to the through-holes (23) contact the contacts (13) on the circuit board (12) through the through-holes (23).

[0027] At this time, the I/O pins (51) of the memory card (50) are connected to the contacts (13) via the lugs (80) on the tray (30). Therefore, the data stored in the memory card (50) can be transferred in turn to the computer (40) or a portable digital product via the I/O pins (51), the lugs (80), the contacts (13), and said signal transmission unit (11) (also referring to FIG.2-FIG.4), and the memory card (50) can be accessed via the flash memory drive. Whenever the memory card (50) is to be taken out, the operator can press down the card ejector (22), and then the tray (30) will slide open, and the memory card (50) can be taken out.

[0028] As shown in FIG.6-FIG.9, in the embodiment, wherein said lugs (80) on the tray (30) have a fixed end (81) and 2 elastic contact ends: first elastic contact end and second elastic contact end (82 and 83). The fixed end (81) is mounted on the tray (30), and the first elastic contact end and the second elastic contact end (82 and 83) bend upwards and downwards, respectively.

[0029] When a memory card (50) is placed in the tray (30), the I/O pins (51) of the memory card (50) contact the first elastic contact end (82). When the tray (30) slides back, the second elastic contact end (83) of the lugs (80) will contact electrically the contacts (13) on the circuit board (12). In this way, the I/O pins (51) of the memory card (50) will be connected electrically to the contacts (13) on the circuit boards (12) via the lugs (80) to enable data access.

[0030] The embodiments in FIG. 6-FIG.9 and FIG.5-FIG.6 employ two lugs of different shapes (80, 80′). That is mainly because that the second elastic contact end (83, 83′) will wipe the bottom of the base (20) before the tray (30) slide back to its original position. When the tray (30) slides back to its original position, the second elastic contact end (83, 83′) will slide into the through-holes (23) and contact electrically the contacts (13) on the circuit board (12). In consideration of the movement of the second elastic contact end (83, 83′), the bent tail of the second elastic contact end (83, 83′) shall be the same to the sliding direction of the tray (30) to reduce the friction between the second elastic contact end (83, 83′) and the base (20). Similarly, in above embodiments, if the base (20) is unenclosed on the bottom and without through-holes (23), the second elastic contact end (83, 83′) will wipe the circuit board (12) when the tray (30) slides).

[0031] In addition, because that the first elastic contact end and the second elastic contact end of the lugs (80, 80′) bend upwards and downwards respectively, the direction of the first elastic contact end (82, 82′) is not limited in case that the bend tail of the second elastic contact end (83, 83′) is the same to the sliding direction of the tray (30). Moreover, the I/O pins (51) of the memory card (50) will not be abraded by the lugs (80, 80′). Thus the laying direction of the memory card (50) is not limited, and memory cards (50) of different sizes or specifications can share the containing space on the tray (30). Thus, a connector can support different memory cards (50) at different times, which implements data exchange among different memory cards (50) indirectly. The memory cards include at least Compact Flash Cards (Type I/II), Smart Media Cards, Multimedia Cards, Secure Digital Cards, xD Cards, and Memory Stick Cards.

[0032] In said embodiments, when a memory card (50) is placed in the tray (30) and its I/O pins (51) contact the first elastic contact end (82) that bends upwards, the first elastic contact end (82) will prop up the memory card (50) upwards. Thus after the memory card (50) is located by said locking part (70), the I/O pins (51) of the memory card (50) will contact firmly the first elastic contact end (82).

[0033] As shown in FIG.5, FIG.10 and FIG.11, in actual implementations, the locking part (70) may further comprises a blocking plate (71), at least a spring (72), and an follow plate (73), wherein the blocking plate (71) is hinged on the leading edge of the tray (30) and may turn forwards and backwards. There is a hook (74) inclining downwards in the inner edge of the tray (30). When the blocking plate (71) turns forwards, the hook will pull the spring (72), which tends to retract and pull the follow plate (73) under the blocking plate (71) to make it tilt upwards.

[0034] When the memory card (50) is pressed on the tray (30), it presses the tilt surface of the hook (74), which makes the blocking plate (71) turn forward a bit, and the spring (72) will be elongated. As soon as the memory card (50) passes the hook (74), the blocking plate (71) will be pulled back by the spring (72) and blocks the memory card (50) from sliding out by the hook (74).

[0035] When the memory card (50) is to be taken out, the operator may turn the blocking plate (71) forwards to make the follow plate (73) tilt up, then the follow plate (73) will prop up the memory card (50), and the operator can take out the memory card (50) easily. In addition, as shown in FIG.7, in said embodiment, when the memory card (50) is placed in the tray (30), the first elastic contact end (82) also props up the memory card (50) upwards. Hence when the memory card (50) is released from the blocking of the hook (74), it will slide out automatically under the propping force of the first elastic contact end (82) unless it is pressed back again by the operator. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tray-style flash memory drive, comprising a case, a base in the case, and a tray that can slide forwards (open) and backwards (close) on the base, wherein there being a circuit board under the base and the circuit board having a signal transmission unit and a plurality of contacts, there being a plurality of lugs on the bottom of the tray, when the tray slides and opens and an memory card is placed in the tray, top surfaces of the lugs contacting the I/O pins of the memory card, when the tray slides backwards and closes, bottom surfaces of the lugs contacting the contacts on the circuit board electrically, thus data stored in the memory card being input/output via the transmission unit through the I/O pins of the memory card, the lugs on the tray, and the contacts.
 2. A tray-style flash memory drive, comprising a case, a base in the case, and a tray that can slide forwards (open) and backwards (close) on the base, wherein there being a circuit board under the base and the circuit board having a signal transmission unit and a plurality of contacts, there being a plurality of lugs on the bottom of the tray, and said lugs having a fixed end mounted on the tray and the first elastic contact end bending upwards and the second elastic contact end bending downwards, when said tray slides and opens and a memory card being placed in the tray, the first elastic contact end contacting the I/O pins of said memory card, when the tray slide back to the original position, the second elastic contact end contacting the contacts on the circuit board under said base electrically, and the data in the memory card being transferred via said signal transmission unit.
 3. A tray-style flash memory drive, comprising a case, a base in the case, and a tray sliding forwards (open) and backwards (close) on the base and holding the memory card, wherein there being a circuit board in said case, said circuit board further comprising a signal transmission unit and a plurality of contacts, said tray having a plurality of lugs on the bottom and a locking part on the leading edge, and said locking part further comprising a blocking plate and at least a spring, when the tray slides and opens and the memory card is placed in said tray, the blocking plate being pushed forward slightly by the memory card and then being pulled back by the spring to block the memory card from sliding out to make the I/O pins of said memory card contact the lugs on bottom of the tray, when said tray slides back to original position, said lugs contacting the contacts on the circuit board, and then the data stored in the flash memory card being transferred via the signal transmission unit.
 4. A tray-style flash memory drive of any one of claim 1-claim 3, wherein said signal transmission unit further comprising an IDE/ATAPI, a USB, and an IEEE 1394 interface.
 5. A tray-style flash memory drive of any one of claim 1-claim 3, wherein said case being connected to said computer system or said portable digital product via said signal transmission unit.
 6. A tray-style flash memory drive of any one of claim 1-claim 3, wherein said base further comprising a slide rail on both sides and a card ejector on one side, said tray having a guided groove corresponding to the slide rail on both sides, to enable said tray to slide and close, the tray being taken out by pressing the card ejector.
 7. A tray-style flash memory drive of any one of claim 1-claim 3, wherein said base being a flat board on the bottom and having a plurality of through-holes facing against the contacts on said circuit board, when said tray slides and closes, the lugs on said tray contacting the contacts on said circuit board electrically through the through-holes.
 8. A tray-style flash memory drive of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said tray having a locking part on the leading edge, and the locking part further comprising a blocking plate and at least a spring, when the tray slides and opens and the memory card is placed in said tray, the blocking plate being pushed forward slightly by the memory card and then being pulled back by the spring to block the memory card from sliding out.
 9. A tray-style flash memory drive of claim 1 or claim 3, wherein there being a plurality of lugs on the bottom of the tray, and said lugs having a fixed end mounted on the tray and the first elastic contact end bending upwards and the second elastic contact end bending downwards, when said tray slides and opens and a memory card being placed in the tray, the first elastic contact end contacting the I/O pins of said memory card, when the tray slide back to the original position, the second elastic contact end contacting the contacts on the circuit board under said base electrically.
 10. A tray-style flash memory drive of claim 3, wherein said locking part further comprising a follow plate, when said blocking plate being pushed forward a bit to pull bottom of said follow plate to tilt upwards to prop up said memory card, and then the operator taking out said memory card easily.
 11. A tray-style flash memory drive of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said memory cards comprising a Compact Flash Card (Type I/II), Smart Media Card, Multimedia Card, Secure Digital Card, xD Card, or Memory Stick Card. 